Kybella
Kybella is the injectable that dissolves a double chin. Made from synthetic deoxycholic acid, a substance your body already produces to break down fat, it destroys the fat cells under the chin so your system clears them away for good. No surgery, no incisions, minimal downtime, and a jawline that sharpens gradually and naturally.
What isKybella?
Kybella is an FDA-approved injectable for submental fullness, the pocket of fat under the chin that heredity, aging, or weight can create and that often ignores diet and exercise entirely. Its active ingredient is synthetic deoxycholic acid, a molecule your liver naturally makes to break down and absorb fat.
Injected into the fat under the chin, it destroys the fat cell membranes. Your metabolic system then clears the destroyed cells away over the following weeks, and the cells that are cleared do not come back, so the reduction holds as long as your weight stays stable. Significant weight gain can still add fat to the area through the cells that remain. The contour improves gradually, which is exactly why it looks natural.
Compared with the alternatives, Kybella holds a specific spot: liposuction removes the fat at once but is surgical, with downtime; non-invasive devices are gentle but may need ongoing maintenance. Kybella is the only FDA-approved injectable for submental fat, and it is non-surgical: lasting results through a series of 15 to 30 minute visits.
Who is Kybella for?
Kybella is for people whose double chin will not budge, and who want it gone without surgery.
For the week before treatment, patients avoid blood thinners such as aspirin and Motrin, fish oils, and vitamins to minimize bruising. Whether Kybella, chin liposuction, or a skin-tightening treatment is the right call for your profile is exactly what your consultation settles.
You have submental fullness
A double chin from heredity, aging, or stubborn fat that diet and exercise have not touched.
You are at or near your ideal weight
Kybella works on small, localized pockets of fat, so your results hold best when your weight stays stable.
You want a non-surgical option
No incisions, no anesthesia, no surgical recovery: a series of quick injection visits instead.
You prefer minimal downtime
Most patients are back to normal activities within a day or two of each session.
Your skin has good elasticity
Skin that retracts as the fat clears gives the cleanest jawline. If yours needs help, we pair or substitute a tightening treatment.
Where Kybellaworks
Kybella is built for the area under the chin, and the same precision extends along the jawline and to small pockets of fat in the lower face.
Select an area on the figure to see what Kybella does there.
Kybella, after 3 treatments1 / 3
Profiles, before andafter the series.
These pairs are from the treatment gallery on the practice's previous website, each showing a profile before Kybella and after completing a short series of treatments. Drag the handle to compare.
See all Kybella resultsIndividual results vary. These photographs are from the treatment gallery on the practice's previous website and are not a guarantee of your own outcome.
See Kybella at our office
Dr. Gupta explains how Kybella works and what the treatment series looks like, filmed at our Montgomery Road office.
If you would rather talk it through, a consultation covers everything you see here, for your profile.
Whatto expect.
Book a consultationKybella is priced by the number of sessions your chin needs, so we give a personalized quote at your consultation.
A series of small injections under the chin. A topical numbing agent can be applied first for comfort.
Expect swelling for several days to a week, sometimes with mild bruising, tenderness, or temporary firmness. Most patients are back to normal activities within a day or two.
Improvement builds after each session, spaced about 4 to 6 weeks apart, with the optimal contour after the full series. Results hold at a stable weight, since the cleared cells do not return.
Frequently asked questions
How does Kybella work?
Its active ingredient, synthetic deoxycholic acid, mirrors a substance your body makes to break down fat. Injected under the chin, it destroys fat cell membranes, and your metabolic system gradually clears the destroyed cells away.
Are Kybella results long lasting?
The fat cells cleared by Kybella do not return, so the improvement is designed to last. Maintaining a stable weight preserves it, since significant weight gain can still enlarge the fat cells that remain in the area. Individual results vary.
How many treatments will I need?
Most patients need two to four sessions, spaced about four to six weeks apart. Your exact plan is set at your consultation.
Does Kybella hurt?
It is generally well tolerated. A topical numbing agent can be applied first, and any mild burning or stinging after the injections subsides quickly.
How long does swelling last after Kybella?
Several days to a week for most patients. Swelling is expected and is actually a sign the treatment is working on the fat.
Is there any downtime after Kybella?
Minimal. Most patients return to normal activities within a day or two of each session.
How is Kybella different from chin liposuction?
Liposuction is surgical and removes the fat immediately, but involves anesthesia and recovery time. Kybella removes the fat gradually across a few quick injection visits, with no surgery at all. We offer both, and your consultation determines the better fit.
What causes a double chin?
Heredity, aging, and excess body fat can all contribute, which is why a double chin often persists even in people at a healthy weight.
What are the possible side effects?
The most common are swelling, pain, numbness, redness, and small areas of firmness around the injection sites, all typically temporary.
How should I prepare for treatment?
Avoid blood thinners such as aspirin and Motrin, fish oils, and vitamins for a week before your session to minimize bruising.
Where to next
Related treatment
Botox
Soften lines and wrinkles.
Explore the treatmentRelated concern
Double Chin
Fullness under the jaw that will not budge
Start from the concernWorth reading
How to Treat the Double Chin with Injectable Kybella in Cincinnati, Ohio
Kybella double chin treatment is an injectable fat-dissolving procedure that can permanently diminish the presence of a double chin.
Read the answerAsk about injectables.
Tell us what you would like to soften or restore. We will come back with which product fits, how long it lasts, and what to expect at your first visit.
Your details go straight to our Montgomery Road front desk and are never shared. A team member replies during office hours, usually the same day.
Ready when you are.
Book a consultation at our Montgomery Road office, or call and we will help you decide where to start.
Medically reviewed by Shalini Gupta, MD, Harvard-trained dermatologist and founder of The Dermatology, Laser & Vein Center. Last reviewed September 2026. This page is for education and is not a substitute for a personalized medical consultation.